Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Suginami-ku

For one person, living is cheaper in Suginami-ku: $1,245 a month against $1,388 in Okinawa, rent and utilities included – about $1,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Okinawa, Japan
Suginami-ku, Japan
Okinawa
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,388
/mo nomad
Suginami-ku
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,245
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Okinawa and in Suginami-ku

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Okinawa and in Suginami-ku actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,388 per month in Okinawa vs $1,245 in Suginami-ku, rent included.

  • Okinawa $1,388
  • Suginami-ku $1,245

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Okinawa vs $1,938 in Suginami-ku, rent included.

  • Okinawa $2,184
  • Suginami-ku $1,938

A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Okinawa vs $2,630 in Suginami-ku, rent included.

  • Okinawa $2,980
  • Suginami-ku $2,630

Okinawa costs about 11% more than Suginami-ku, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Okinawa sits 2% above the global median, while Suginami-ku is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Okinawa
Suginami-ku
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.12 ¥1,598
$6.53 ¥1,031
54.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.24 ¥6,355
$40.78 ¥6,440
-1.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.04 ¥1,112
$5.06 ¥799
39.13%
Cappuccino
$4.11 ¥649
$3.54 ¥559
16.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 ¥221
$1.07 ¥169
30.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 ¥145
$0.80 ¥126
15.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.51 ¥396
$2.56 ¥404
-1.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27 ¥832
$3.14 ¥496
67.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Okinawa
Suginami-ku
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 ¥249
$1.44 ¥227
9.72%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 ¥324
$1.73 ¥273
18.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.76 ¥594
$3.73 ¥589
0.80%
Eggs
$1.84 ¥290
$2.02 ¥319
-8.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.99 ¥2,842
$10.42 ¥1,646
72.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.79 ¥757
$6.14 ¥970
-21.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.45 ¥3,546
$14.38 ¥2,271
56.12%
Apples (1kg)
$3.81 ¥602
$5.65 ¥892
-32.57%
Banana (1kg)
$2.62 ¥413
$2.72 ¥429
-3.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 ¥347
$2.86 ¥452
-23.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.26 ¥831
$4.16 ¥657
26.44%
Potato (1kg)
$2.39 ¥377
$2.56 ¥404
-6.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.56 ¥404
$2.57 ¥406
-0.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.28 ¥201
$1.24 ¥196
3.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ¥122
$0.81 ¥128
-4.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 ¥617
$3.77 ¥595
3.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.40 ¥1,011
$6.46 ¥1,021
-0.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 ¥308
$1.80 ¥285
8.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 ¥528
$2.05 ¥323
62.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Okinawa
Suginami-ku
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.44 ¥227
$1.48 ¥234
-2.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.1 ¥10.3K
$60.8 ¥9,605
7.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.82 ¥603
$3.09 ¥488
23.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.54 ¥559
$2.64 ¥417
34.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.23 ¥1,773
$20.90 ¥3,300
-46.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 ¥175
$1.07 ¥170
3.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ¥3.3M
$21.7K ¥3.4M
-3.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.5K ¥2.5M
$16.0K ¥2.5M
-2.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Okinawa
Suginami-ku
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$163 ¥25.7K
$133 ¥21.0K
22.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.35 ¥4,004
$23.94 ¥3,781
5.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 ¥8,382
$32.31 ¥5,103
64.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Okinawa
Suginami-ku
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.0 ¥11.5K
$54.4 ¥8,594
34.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$54.9 ¥8,673
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.98 ¥1,893
$12.82 ¥2,024
-6.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Okinawa
Suginami-ku
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$327 ¥51.7K
$835 ¥131.9K
-60.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,668 ¥895.1K
$14.9K ¥2.3M
-61.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Okinawa
Suginami-ku
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.88 ¥7,720
$62.6 ¥9,886
-21.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.35 ¥3,688
$37.77 ¥5,966
-38.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.2 ¥12.8K
$60.7 ¥9,578
33.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.7 ¥15.1K
$104 ¥16.5K
-8.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Okinawa
Suginami-ku
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$411 ¥65.0K
$562 ¥88.8K
-26.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$332 ¥52.4K
$347 ¥54.8K
-4.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$852 ¥134.6K
$1,113 ¥175.8K
-23.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$678 ¥107.1K
$664 ¥104.9K
2.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,422 ¥1.3M
$4,687 ¥740.2K
79.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,185 ¥187.1K
$2,017 ¥318.6K
-41.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Okinawa
Suginami-ku
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,798 ¥283.9K
$2,787 ¥440.1K
-35.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.23
2
11.50%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Okinawa: October 26, 2026

Last update for Suginami-ku: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Okinawa
$332
Suginami-ku
$347 4.5% $15
Groceries & Markets
Okinawa
$330
Suginami-ku
$290 12% $40
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Okinawa
$241
Suginami-ku
$189 21.5% $52
Eating Out
Okinawa
$184
Suginami-ku
$136 25.8% $47
Clothing & Footwear
Okinawa
$112
Suginami-ku
$119 6.5% $7.3
Sport & Entertainment
Okinawa
$97
Suginami-ku
$80 17.5% $17
Getting Around
Okinawa
$92
Suginami-ku
$83 10.1% $9.3

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $411 in Okinawa versus $562 in Suginami-ku. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 55% higher in Suginami-ku, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40 in Okinawa versus $41 in Suginami-ku. Groceries tell a different story – $330 in Okinawa vs $290 in Suginami-ku – so Suginami-ku wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Okinawa
🇯🇵 Suginami-ku
🕒 Local time
03:22 3:22 AM
03:22 3:22 AM
Same time as Okinawa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
142,752
540,180
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 176 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Okinawa Suginami-ku 1,510 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Okinawa
  • Suginami-ku

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Okinawa vs Suginami-ku: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Suginami-ku cheaper than Okinawa?
Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 11%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,082 per month in Okinawa and $1,868 in Suginami-ku. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Okinawa, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $411 there versus $562 in Suginami-ku.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 7% less in Suginami-ku. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do food prices compare in Okinawa and in Suginami-ku?
Groceries cost about 14% more in Okinawa, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,000 enough to cover costs in Okinawa or in Suginami-ku?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,388 in Okinawa and $1,245 in Suginami-ku. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is it better to live in Okinawa or in Suginami-ku?
It depends on your priorities. Okinawa has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,245 in Suginami-ku to $1,388 in Okinawa. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Okinawa or Suginami-ku?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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